Just got to the US, ready to petiton my hubby and kid, pls help!

[Alaska0311 0]

Hello!

I just got back to the US after 12 years in the Philippines. I got married there in August 2001 and have 2 kids now. Can I petition my husband now since I havent stayed here in the US for a month yet. I just got my first job last week and I miss the kids so I want to petition them as soon as possible. Can i do that now? My sister is in the military, she can help me with my affidavit of support if I dont meet the requirement right? I havent had any work before so I dont have tax yet, is that ok? please help me.. Your reply will be very much appreciated. Thank you!

[Mononoke28 135]

Since you haven't worked before you can use a co-sponsor who earns enough to support you and your family.

Also, are you a US citizen? If you are your children will automatically be US citizens as well. All you have to do is take care of the paperwork, you don't have to petition them.

Diana

[trailmix 77]

They will be U.S. citizens, as you are, however, there are hoops to jump through first, please read this to decide what additional paperwork you may have to file to ensure they can document their citizenship:

Dept of State - Child Citizenship Act

One of the criteria under the Citizenship act of 2000 is that: The child must "live in the legal and physical custody of the American citizen parent".

Depending on what your residence has been in the U.S. (and in lieu of that, then the residence of your parents in the U.S.) you may need to petition for the Children. Regardless, they still need to be in your custody.

[MargotDarko 0]

Since you haven't worked before you can use a co-sponsor who earns enough to support you and your family.

Also, are you a US citizen? If you are your children will automatically be US citizens as well. All you have to do is take care of the paperwork, you don't have to petition them.

Diana

It's unlikely but possible that her children aren't USCs. She needs to have lived in the US for a certain number of years and for at least two of the years to have been after she was 14. So since she's been in the Phillipines for 12 years, if she was under 26 years old when the children were born, I don't believe they are USCs.

[DonInTX 0]

Please read the information from the embassy in Manila atRegistration of Birth Abroad

If you meet those requirements, you can register their births in Manila and obtain US Passports for them. The Child Citizenship Act and registration of foreign births are not the same, and thusly the requirements are not the same. Your husband can act on your behalf, via power of attorney, to process this through the Embassy in Manila. We did this in April of this year with our daughter. I am in the US and they are in the Philippines.

If you do not meet the requirements, you will have to petition them and then you could use the Child Citizenship Act as a means of getting their US citizenship.

Good luck on your journey - Don

your mileage may vary...

[MargotDarko 0]

Since you haven't worked before you can use a co-sponsor who earns enough to support you and your family.

Also, are you a US citizen? If you are your children will automatically be US citizens as well. All you have to do is take care of the paperwork, you don't have to petition them.

Diana

It's unlikely but possible that her children aren't USCs. She needs to have lived in the US for a certain number of years and for at least two of the years to have been after she was 14. So since she's been in the Phillipines for 12 years, if she was under 26 years old when the children were born, I don't believe they are USCs.

Actually, I think I did my math wrong and it should be 28 instead of 26. But now I've gotten myself confused.

[trailmix 77]

Please read the information from the embassy in Manila atRegistration of Birth Abroad

If you meet those requirements, you can register their births in Manila and obtain US Passports for them. The Child Citizenship Act and registration of foreign births are not the same, and thusly the requirements are not the same. Your husband can act on your behalf, via power of attorney, to process this through the Embassy in Manila. We did this in April of this year with our daughter. I am in the US and they are in the Philippines.

If you do not meet the requirements, you will have to petition them and then you could use the Child Citizenship Act as a means of getting their US citizenship.

Good luck on your journey - Don

your mileage may vary...

Well stated!